WSA COACH TRAVEL PER DIEM 

• MEALS PER DIEM: $40 per day 
  • Dinner - $25
  • Lunch - $12
  • Breakfast - $7 
• MILEAGE: 35 cents per mile / 50% of the IRS Rate
• LODGING: 100% Lodging of all nights of required lodging for event

WSA Coaches Travel Expenses & Per Diem

WSA Coaches Travel Expenses Policy
* From WSA Club Policy & Procedures, Ratified by WSA Executive Council & WSA Board, Revised Feb 2023

Coach Travel Expenses should be provided for coaches for any travel event of 100 miles roundtrip or greater.

For statewide league play, many single games may require travel between 200-300 mile roundtrip (i.e. Tulsa to Norman).  The club recommendation is that mileage is provided at the rate listed below for these single games.   For league games, since these are often unplanned and un budgeted then coaches should expect that on occasion the funds will be reimbursed, rather than paid up front.  No lodging or food per diem is expected to be paid for league games.
 

It is important for the team to PAY THE COACH BEFORE DEPARTURE of any traveling tournament.  The expectation is that the coach should not be out any “out of pocket” expenses for travel, lodging, or food.  These monies should be collected per player by the team as part of the team’s tournament “entry fee” expenses (divide total cost among number of players on team).  IT IS REQUIRED TO COLLECT WELL IN ADVANCE FOR TRAVEL EVENTS and to collect "installments" at 4 different times of the year to cover all "travel" and "team" expenses (see WSA Managers page and team budget spreadsheet).   

Please communicate closely with your coach on all tournament schedules and events so that you can “plan” for travel expenses.  Teams who compete in "national qualifying" leagues should pre-budget 50% of the potential costs of coach travel if the team were to qualify for regional or national finals..  If the team qualifies the remaining 50% should be collected upon qualification.  If the team does not qualify the 50% collected will "roll-over" to the next year, or be applied to team expenses in the current year.  It will not become reimbursable to families at the end of the year. 

Please use the following schedule for determining coach’s travel expenses:

CALCULATING COACH TRAVEL EXPENSES 

1)    The team will cover the coach’s entire motel/hotel expense.  It is expected that the team will reserve the room, secure payment methods with the motel/hotel on the coach’s behalf before departure, and supply the coach with the confirmation number required at check-in.  The expenses should only include “cost of the room” and no extra fees such as phone usage, internet connections, etc…
 

2)    For trips to team games over 100 miles the team is expected to pay the coach mileage.  The team will pay the coach 35 cents per mile or at least 50% of the IRS stated rate (teams may pay the IRS rate if they wish to).   Miles calculated should include the “round trip".  The team can increase this rate if they wish to.  The rate applied here is the minimum expected rate.  If the team chooses to fly, the team is expected to handle the coach’s roundtrip airline ticket and rental car expenses.  If the team travels by bus, the team is expected to pay the coach's portion of bus fare.
-- OR -- Teams may choose to pay via gas receipts or by utilizing the team debit card for gas purchases for the coach's travel.  NOTE: IF the IRS rate for mileage is not applied then the coach may still claim the appropriate mileage expense deduction during tax filing. 
 

3)    The coach’s per diem is assigned as $40 per day.  For Example: breakfast - $7, lunch $12, dinner - $20.  For each “full day” that the coach is with the team $40 should be allotted.  The team may and can pay a higher per diem. * Teams participating in leagues which travel further than 150-miles will apply a $60 per diem (i.e. ECNL-RL): Breakfast - $15, Lunch $20, Dinner $25. 
 

4)    Team manager’s are expected to record and keep records of receipts with team files.

Teams with same gender coaches are expected to "share" in travel expenses.  The team should calculate the standard expense, and multiply by no more than 1.5 to arrive at the final expense for the team.  

If you have any questions on the above policy please contact a WSA Director of Coaching. 

NOTES: 

Make sure your coach plans to drive before you pay his mileage. IF YOUR COACH DOES NOT PLAN TO DRIVE (i.e. rides with a parent or other staff member) THE TEAM SHOULD NOT PAY THE COACH MILEAGE. 
 

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR COACH HAS TRAVEL EXPENSE MONEY IN HAND BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE TOURNAMENT.
 

POLICIES REGARDING EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL CASES

POLICY FOR COACHES WITH CHILDREN PARTICIPATING:

If a coach's child is participating in the team that is traveling, or if the coach's child is participating with another team traveling to the same event then the following application of travel expenses is expected:

The team shall reimburse (or advance) the coach in accordance with the Coach Travel Expense Policy (herein), IF coach is current with team fees and dues.

Teams are expected the cover the amounts listed above. The above is applicable to all teams, but might be overriden by a particular club demographic, such as a certain league platform, or community club.  There should never be an instance where per diem amounts listed above are less than the rates listed unless the coach has expressly informed the team that she/he will not be accepting portions of the per diem rates.  (Ratified by Executive Council Jan 2023, Voted by Gen Membership March 2023).

POLICY FOR TEAMS WITH MULTIPLE COACHES: 

Teams with multiple coaches should anticipate covering food expense for both coaches.  If coaches are both same gender and can share a room, then it is expected coaches share a room, or receive 50% of lodging.  When possible coaches should be expected to travel together sharing expenses for travel.  When not possible, for example when using airline travel or when coaches are traveling from different locations, then the team should cover both coaches expenses.  The total expense burden of the team should not be expected to exceed more than 150% of the total per diems for one coach (i.e. if the total food, lodging, and travel comes to $500 for one coach, then the team would cover both coaches by multiplying $500 X 1.5, which is $750 total, and apply 50% of $750, or $375 to each coach's expense).   The coaches must collaborate on travel and lodging.

POLICY FOR TEAMS WITH MULTIPLE COACHES, DIFFERENT GENDER:

If coaches are not the same gender, then the team is expected to cover 100% of the lodging for both coaches, 100% of the food for both coaches, and 50% of the travel for both coaches. 

POLICY FOR STAFF COACHES (i.e. Sports Performance, GK Training, Athletic Training/Medics, or Technical Directors): 

Coaches who are not assigned to a team, but spend time with a team in some significant role such as goalkeeper training, technical directing, athletic training/medics, sports performance, or other roles, may travel with teams to significant events such as National or Regional finals, major college showcases, or league promotion matches.  

POLICY FOR NATIONAL FINALS and/or REGIONAL FINALS

Teams qualifying for National Finals (or Regional Finals) are expected to cover 100% of coach travel expenses.  In various league platforms the club may help offset expenses.  Typically the club will cover the "entry fee" for the National or Regional event.  In some cases the club will pay for additional chaperones, media relations coordinators, or possibly additional staff to travel.  Teams will typically know prior to event registration if WSA will cover any of the coach travel, lodging, or food expenses for a national qualifier.  The allocation of other club personnel resources will be dependent on the club's resource availability at the time, often times dictated by timing of the National Finals event. 

(Revised 2019, Ratified Jan 15, 2023, Executive Council)

POLICY FOR COACH WITH MULTIPLE TEAMS  TRAVELING TO SAME LOCATION

Coaches who coach more than one team, when teams are simultaneously traveling to the same location, and the coach hotel location can serve both teams, the teams should split the cost of the event.  If the coach coaches two teams in this scenario each teams would each cover 50%.  If the coach is assigned to three teams in this scenario, the teams would cover 33.33%.  If the coach is assigned to four teams in this scenario, the teams would cover 25%.

The team managers of the coach’s teams should collaborate on a best method to remit payment to the coach. It is permissible for each team manager to pay their portion to the coach, and request the coach to execute payments for lodging, and applicable travel. (Proposed 2023, January)
 

POLICY FOR COACH TRAVEL OVER 600 MILES (accepted as probationary for the 2024-2025 season, to be ratified at future General Meeting)
 

If a team is traveling over 600 mile (one-way) then the team will be responsible for covering the equivalent of one coach's airfare and rental car.  The coach must notify the team at least 10 days in advance of her/his option to fly (when possible, in cases where the schedule is released and the date of a 600-mile+ trip is within 4 weeks then an exception to the 10-day rule will exist). 

If a team is traveling less than 600-miles (one way) and a coach decides to fly then the coach will be paid the amount for the driving mileage rate (see above) and can apply this towards the flight and rental car. 

The Coach (not the manager) is responsible to book the flight and rental car.  The team will advance the coach for these payments or reimburse, based on timing of the request.  However, the coach should execute the transaction.